In Sermons: showing 166-180 of 312

A New Kind Of Fishing Series

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Aug 8, 2012

Fishing for people is not optional; it’s how the world has changed from those very first days when Jesus walked along the shore of the Sea of Galilee proclaiming the nearness of the kingdom of heaven. Its how the world will continue to be transformed unti

As many of you will remember from last week, we are doing a special sermon series this month called “Gone Fishin’,” where we will take a fishing trip with Jesus as we explore the fishing stories of the gospel. Now, the best fishing trips are the ones where you catch something, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:12-22

Denomination: United Methodist

Cast Your Nets Deep! Series

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Aug 1, 2012

Jesus climbs in the boat with us; he steps into our lives, our homes, our workplaces, and he says, “I want you to come with me." We can try and run from it and throw out all the excuses we want, but that doesn’t change God’s call.

You know, summer is a great time to go fishing. In fact, a couple of weeks ago when I was at my sister’s house for my nephew’s baptism, we saw two boys walk by the house two or three times with fishing poles slung over their shoulders and tackle boxes in their hands. They were headed ...read more

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

Denomination: United Methodist

Do No Harm Series

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Jul 1, 2012

The first in a sermon series around John Wesley's "General Rules for the People Called Methodist." An exploration of Christ's command to "love your neighbor as yourself."

Do any of you have a guilty indulgence? If you’re like me, you probably have more than one. And one of those guilty pleasures for me is Krispy Kreme donuts. In my book, there’s nothing quite so good as a warm, sugar-glazed Krispy Kreme donut. Ken would say that the cake donuts from ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

Fear Or Faith

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Jun 21, 2012

If we have faith in God, then the limits of our own power do not matter because there is a greater power at work; the Lord who can calm the storm with a few simple words. And if Christ can do that, how much more can he do in this world if we only have fai

Have you ever wondered why the disciples were afraid? I had never really given that question much thought before, mostly because the answer is right before us, right? The disciples were afraid because there was a terrible storm! Well, there certainly was a big storm and that would be a cause for ...read more

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Denomination: United Methodist

New Things Have Arrived

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Jun 7, 2012

The gospel is the announcement of a love that has changed the world, a love that continues to change the world; a love that takes the people who find themselves loved and transforms them, sending them off to live and work in a totally new way.

Writer Parker Palmer tells of his first experience on an Outward Bound course in his book, The Active Life. He says, "I took the course in my early forties, and in the middle of that course I was asked to confront the thing I had fears about since I had first heard about Outward Bound: a gossamer ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:6-17

Denomination: United Methodist

Renewed Every Day

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Jun 6, 2012

God's presence is all around us, renewing us inside and out. If we know this to be true, then our faith obligates that we speak about this wonderful reality, so that others might come to glorify God for God's abundant grace.

“Nothing is certain in this world but death and taxes.” So goes the famous saying. And though this is a rather modern phrase, Paul seemed to have something like this in mind as he continues his second letter to the Corinthians in the reading we heard just moments ago. But Paul’s ...read more

Denomination: United Methodist

Fragility And Fortitude

Contributed by Clair Sauer on May 30, 2012

Light is always brighter than the darkness, life stronger than death, and what resides in our broken bodies is the glory of a resurrection waiting to burst forth.

There is a distinguished British gentleman by the name of Sir Oliver Franks. He had been a professor of philosophy at Oxford, and president of a couple of different colleges during the turbulent years of the 1960s and following. He had also been the chairmen of a major bank. As if this resume was ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5-12

Denomination: United Methodist

We've Been Through Fire

Contributed by Clair Sauer on May 22, 2012

A sermon for Pentecost Sunday. We celebrate at Pentecost the power that exceeds all other "powers" of the world!

There is a poem by an unknown author that my Mom shared with me many years ago. Her college choir director read it at every concert, and as I grew to love and study music, it was never far from my mind. It reads like this: “For the common things of everyday, God gave man speech in a common ...read more

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21

Denomination: United Methodist

Things Are Looking Up!

Contributed by Clair Sauer on May 16, 2012

A sermon for Ascension Day.

I have a tendency to daydream. It’s something I’ve done since I was very young, probably longer than I remember. Though, I attribute my daydreaming tendencies to my fourth grade class, which also happens to be my earliest memory of daydreaming. Mr. Powell’s class was arranged in ...read more

Scripture: Luke 24:44-53

Denomination: United Methodist

Remain: Reflections On Love & Unity As Christ's Friends

Contributed by Clair Sauer on May 9, 2012

What does it mean today to be called Christ's friends? It means we live as a community, united in Christ's love; we don't focus on differences, but celebrate diversity.

I’m going to do something this morning that I never thought I would do as a preacher. In fact, I’m going to break one of my cardinal rules of preaching, which is, don’t preach about politics! Now, the truth of the matter is, if I really did preach about politics, I could get ...read more

Scripture: John 15:9-17

Denomination: United Methodist

New Life, New Way

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Apr 11, 2012

As we emerge "this side of Easter," Luke's description of the early church community in Acts makes us think deeply about the effects Jesus' resurrection might actually have on our lives.

“Ahhhhhh. Those were the days!” So begins one of our favorite pastimes, recalling the pastimes. But it never seems to take too long before eyes start glazing over or heads start shaking. Because there’s nothing like a good dose of nostalgia to make life seem pretty awful. And for ...read more

Scripture: Acts 4:32-35

Denomination: United Methodist

The Greatest Day In History

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Apr 11, 2012

Easter Sunday: a monologue sermon preached in the character of Mary Magdalene.

Salome! Mary! Please, slow down! Please, I can’t keep up with you, not this early in the morning. Besides, it’s so cold, and I’m tired. And when we get there, we’re going to have to move that big stone. And that’s a really big stone! How are we going to do that if you ...read more

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8

Denomination: United Methodist

Do As I Do Series

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Apr 4, 2012

A Maundy Thursday sermon focusing on the pattern which Christ has given us to follow so that we might know joy and happiness in the presence of the Father.

I have in my office a beautiful needlepoint of the United Methodist cross and flame. It was a gift to me one Christmas a few years ago from a parishioner. The piece is not huge, it fits into a 5x7 frame, but I know the woman who did this needlepoint spent hours and hours weaving this beautiful ...read more

Scripture: John 13:1-35

Denomination: United Methodist

Things Are Not Always As They Seem Series

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Mar 28, 2012

This Palm Sunday, and every day, as we wave our leafy branches and worship our God and King, we have to remember who this really is. We can never forget just how very much he loves us, and we have to go out and love others in the same way.

Perhaps you have heard all the news lately about Queen Elizabeth’s “Diamond Jubilee.” This year marks the 60th anniversary of Elizabeth’s reign as the Queen of England. She ascended to the throne on February 6, 1952. The “Diamond Jubilee” is the international ...read more

Scripture: Mark 11:1-11

Denomination: United Methodist

When All Else Fails Series

Contributed by Clair Sauer on Mar 21, 2012

Jesus calls us to follow God’s will, even if we are scared. And sometimes following means that we have to fall on our knees, push aside our own agendas, and ask in complete humility that God’s will be done. That’s the lesson of the garden.

On the day I happened to begin writing this sermon this week, I was very tired. I had been tired the night before, and I had even gone to bed early, but it didn’t seem to make a difference. I was just plain worn out! You know the feeling I’m sure. It might be that we are in day twelve ...read more

Scripture: Mark 14:32-40

Denomination: United Methodist